Self-luminous device



Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

R. W. ERDLE.

SELF LUMINOUS DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I6. 1-918.

I I I I 1 I III/ll II r V 1 INVENTOR flezLncplI/Ezlle AWN? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BEINEB W. EBDLE, OF WEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOLD LIG MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

SELF-LUMINOUS DEVICE.

Application filed May 16, 1918.

' accompanying drawings.

My present invention relates to an im proved form of self-luminous pendant intended to be used as an attachment to any article which it is desirable to find promptly in the dark; and more particularly to devices of this character adapted to be attached to the slender chains commonly used for operating the switches on incandescent electric lamps. The object of my lnvention is to provide a pendant of this character which can be easily and cheaply manufactured and which, when finished, is ornamental in appearance and can be readily and easily fixed to the switch operating chains already commonly in use.

The invention comprises, broadly speaking, a hollow transparent outer container with vmeans for suspending the same, and a transparent inner receptacle containing a self-luminous material and adapted to be inserted readily within the outer container.

I have illustrated certain preferred forms of my invention in the accompanying draw-' ings, wherein Figure l is a vertical section of one form of my device, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same viewed at right angles to the aspect of Fig. 1 and showing the spun shell in section, Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of another form of my device, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modified form of inner receptacle. All of these views show the device much exaggerated in size.

The inner receptacle 13 contains a mass 10 of self-luminous material, which is preferably in the form of a fine powder, as used in the form of my device shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This receptacle, as there shown, takes the form of a thin tube of glass which is first sealed by fusion at one end, as at 9, then partly filled with a self-luminous powder, and then sealed at its opposite end 12 by fusion in a well known manner. A space 16 should be left at one end, both in order not to interfere with perfect sealing, and in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920. Serial No. 234,846.

I order that the properties of the self-luminous powder may not be impaired by the heat used in sealing.

The receptacle 13 thus prepared is adapted to be readily inserted into the narrow bore of a thick glass container 14 of suitable shape and size to be used as a pendant upon the chaln or other article to be located n the dark. For greater security the open- 1ng of the bore is closed by a stopper 15 of asbestos or other suitable material. In Fig. 1, the inner receptacle is shown inclining at an angle which exaggerates the actual inclination probable in practice.- This inclinat-lOll'lS merely to emphasize the fact that I pref r to make the bore of the outercontame. sufiiciently larger than the diameter of the receptacle 13 to insure easy admis- SlOIl Of the latter in all cases.

The container 14 may be made of any sultable transparent or translucent material, and any s u1table means may be employed for fastenlng the same to the chain or other artlcle to be located. I prefer, however, to use the construction shown in my drawings.

Here the container 14 is provided with a circumferential groove 17 near its upper end, and a shell 18 of thin metal has its lower edge spun into said groove so as tightly to secure it to the container. This shell may be given any desired ornamental shape. Through an opening in the top of the shell are introduced thecnds of a wire loop 19, and these ends are bent outward 1n opposite directions, as at 20, so as to rest against the inner surface of the shell and prevent rocking of the loop in a direction represented by the plane of the paper in Fig. 1. In order further to stabilize this loop, which serves as the direct suspending agent for the whole device, I prefer .to so shape it that the sides of the loop bear normally against the outer surface of the shell material and then breaking it into suitable lengths for-use. The method of carrying out this operation is described and claimed in a copending application for patent.

Fig. 3 of my drawings also illustrates an alternative form of stopper for the outer container which may be used with any form of inner receptacle. This stopper is formedglass'rod coated with hot shellac or the like adhesive, and breaking off the inserted end to form a permanent stopper 24.

It is clear that various changes can .be made in this device without departing from the scope of my invention and I do not limit myself to the details herein shown and described.

What I claim is 1. A self-luminous device comprising an outer translucent container, a hollow space in said container, a separate and individual container, luminous material in said second container, said second container being in said hollow space. v

2. A self luminous indicating device adapted to be. attached to a pull chain comprising a container having substantially thick translucent Walls adapted to receive the actuating force of said chain, said container having a hollow space between said Walls, a translucent capsule containing a luminous material said capsule being contained in said hollow space and means near one end of said container for attaching the-container to a pull chain.

3. A self-luminous indicating device comprising a translucent container, anelongated hollow space in said container, a narrow elongated capsule in said hollow space, a luminous material in said capsule, said capsule being sealed at both of its ends.

4:. In a device of the class described, an outer transparent container having a groove near one end thereof, a thin metallic shell spun into said groove, and a wire loop ha'ring its ends inserted within said shell and ,bent outward against the same, said loop bearing against the outside andsaid ends against the inside of said shell so as to prevent rocking of the loop in any direction.

A self luminous attachment or pendant comprising an outer glass container, -a' self luminous element within the same, and a stopper of hardened water glass for said container.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature to this specification.

' REINER IV. ERDLE. 

